The Ford Fleet Purchase Planner™ is a new tool that helps
businesses build a fleet of vehicles with an eye toward cost and
environmental concerns

KONE, a leader in escalator and elevator manufacturing, used the Ford
Fleet Purchase Planner to develop a plan to replace its fleet of 160
Ford Fusion cars with new Fusion Hybrid vehicles by 2018; the move is
expected to reduce KONE’s carbon emissions output by 850 metric tons
annually

For its commitment to analytics and big data collection, Ford was
among three finalists for the Institute for Operations Research and
Management Sciences' 2014 Innovative Applications in Analytics Award

April 28, 2014 01:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time

DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eco-conscious vehicle options have never been greater, leaving consumers
wondering where to find the best value. The question becomes more
complicated when the buyer is a corporation looking to revamp its
company fleet of vehicles.

Researchers and data analysts at Ford Motor Company have developed a new
tool to help buyers build a better fleet. The Ford Fleet Purchase Planner™
offers guidance in choosing from Ford’s vehicle lineup, while helping to
manage cost and informing buyers how their choices will aid in reducing
their company’s carbon footprint.

“The one-size-fits-all approach is outdated,” said John Ginder, manager
of systems analytics and environmental sciences, Ford research and
advanced engineering. “Given what can now be done with analytics,
customers shouldn’t settle for buying one vehicle for an entire fleet
based on factors such as projected use or miles per gallon.”

Using the planner, customers build a fleet of Ford vehicles. Factoring
in environmental concerns, individual driving habits of employees and
terrain traveled, the planner then calculates the fleet’s environmental
impact and cost. Buyers are able to change the lineup until the mix
meets their goals.

“This level of individualized customer service is exactly why we
continue to invest in analytics and big data,” said Ginder.

Already, the patent-pending tool has helped KONE, a leader in elevator
and escalator manufacturing, commit to replacing its fleet of 160 Ford
Fusion cars with the new Fusion Hybrid by 2018. The move is expected to
result in a reduction in KONE’s carbon emissions by 850 metric tons a
year while saving the company money.

“We are proud to continue to do our part to help reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and help provide our employees with a safe, reliable vehicle
to travel to site locations,” said Adam Judd, KONE sourcing director,
Americas.

In recent years, Ford has expanded its hybrid and EV vehicle offerings
to include the C-Max, Focus Electric, Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi.
With all of the options available from Ford, the company recognized the
potential for confusion, which prompted development of the new tool.

The Ford Fleet Purchase Planner is the result of Ford’s commitment to
data and analytics. The unique tool was among three finalists for the
2014 Innovative Applications in Analytics Award by INFORMS, the largest
association for professionals in analytics. A year prior, Ford won the
2013 INFORMS Prize, which acknowledges a company’s overall achievement
in analytics.

The Ford Fleet Purchase Planner is available only to companies
maintaining fleet vehicles.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford
Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 181,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the
company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.